We're joined by Prevention Support Officer Clare and Crew Manager Charlie, who are both keen motorcyclists and deliver our Biker Down programme. They share their experiences on two wheels and discuss the steps riders can take to stay safe on Lancashire's roads.

We explore the Biker Down course, including what it covers, who can attend and how it helps motorcyclists prepare for the unexpected. We also discuss the importance of wearing the right personal protective equipment (PPE), even during warmer weather, and highlight additional training opportunities that can help riders build confidence and improve their skills.

Whether you're a new rider, a pillion (somebody that rides on the back of a motorcycle, not the rider themselves), or an experienced motorcyclist looking to refresh your knowledge, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you stay safe and enjoy the road ahead.

If you'd like to find out more about our Biker Down programme, including upcoming courses and how to book a place, please visit our website: www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/bikerdown

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

We’re joined by Crew Manager Charlie from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS), Group Manager Craig from North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), and Scene Manager and Family Liaison Officer Simon from Lancashire Police’s Serious Collision Unit, who share their experiences of attending road traffic collisions and the vital roles they play at the scene.

We discuss what really happens when emergency services respond to a collision, the trends they are seeing on our roads, and the ‘Fatal Five’ behaviours that continue to put lives at risk. The episode also explores how different groups, from young drivers to older motorists, can stay safe, with practical advice for everyone who uses our roads.

Whether you’re a driver, passenger, cyclist or pedestrian, this episode is packed with insights and tips to help keep you and others safe.

Links to Websites/Resources discussed in the episode:

If you're interested in finding out more about road safety, please head to our website: www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/road

On our webpage, you’ll find advice on road safety, including guidance for pedestrians and tips for driving in winter conditions.

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

We cover how to prepare for the firefighter fitness test, tips for staying hydrated and fueling your body properly, and we bust some common firefighter fitness myths along the way. 

Whether you’re thinking about applying or just curious about the role, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you perform at your best.

Links to Websites/Resources discussed in the episode:

• Bleep Test TikTok
• Chester Treadmill Test TiKTok
• Weights/Strength required (scroll down to On-call firefighter fitness requirements to see Strength Test)

If you’re interested in finding out more about on-call firefighting at LFRS and would like to register your interest, please head to our website www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/oncall. 

For more information about wholetime firefighters at LFRS, head over to www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/wholetime.

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

With recruitment for on-call firefighters opening soon, we’ve put together a podcast episode featuring a conversation with On-call Firefighter Sue Ward, about the ins and outs of the role.

On-call firefighters are community members who live or work near an on-call fire station and can quickly respond to emergencies by crewing a fire engine - usually arriving at the station within 5 to 8 minutes.

The service employs people from all walks of life in the role, ranging from self-employed tradespeople, stay-at-home parents to employees of small businesses and large, well-known organisations. They are paid for their time and are professionally trained firefighters who work alongside full-time colleagues to respond to a wide range of incidents from road, rail or air crashes, to floods, fires, chemical spills or rescuing people trapped in confined spaces.

Our applications open on Monday 2nd June, and close on Friday 27th June, with training courses beginning in October. If you’re interested in finding out more about on-call firefighting at LFRS and would like to register your interest, please head to our website www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/oncall

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

He also shares leadership insights, career-defining moments, and plans for the future, including supporting fire service research and spending more time with family—and his dog, Milo. 

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

The highlight of this initiative is the Team Programme, a 12-week, full-time course designed to help young people aged 16 to 25 build confidence, motivation, and practical skills. Since its launch in April 2001, we’ve supported over 7,000 young people in our local communities, and we now offer more of these programmes than any other fire and rescue service in the UK.

In this episode, we're joined by three special guests: Caroline Hooson, Youth Engagement Coordinator at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service; Karolina, a Prince’s Trust Support Worker; and Iqraa, who recently completed the programme. Together, we’ll explore the life-changing impact of the Team Programme, hear Iqraa’s personal story, and discuss how the programme equips young people for success—both in their personal lives and future careers.

For more information about the programme, please visit: www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/princes-trust

Links to Resources discussed in the episode:

• Iqraa's article - WORK EXPERIENCE: Iqraa's Time at Colne Life HQ • Colne Life Magazine

This episode was recorded in August and September of 2024. Please note, in October 2024, the Prince's Trust changed their name to The King's Trust, reflecting our Royal Founding President's continued dedication to our work.

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

• The Flood Hub 
• Lancashire Resilience Forum
• Environment Agency Section of Flooding on the Government website

Remember, it's not just about protecting your business, it's about protecting your employees, your customers, and your future.

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

On-call firefighters are members of our community living and working in Lancashire who often have another job but also respond to emergencies from home or work when needed. They must live or work close to an on-call fire station and be able to respond quickly to crew the fire engine; generally being able to get to the station within 5-8 minutes. 

The service employs people from all walks of life in the role, ranging from self-employed tradespeople, stay-at-home parents to employees of small businesses and large, well-known organisations. They are paid for their time and are professionally trained firefighters who work alongside full-time colleagues to respond to a wide range of incidents from road, rail or air crashes, to floods, fires, chemical spills or rescuing people trapped in confined spaces.

Our applications open on Monday, June 17, and close on Sunday, July 7, with training courses beginning in November. If you’re interested in finding out more about on-call firefighting at LFRS and would like to register your interest, please head to our website www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/oncall.  

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

The episode explores their experiences of being a female firefighter and motherhood, the fitness levels and recruits course required and how you could prepare and what International Women's Day means to them.

And, who knows, we may see more and more women realising what they are capable of and encourage them to apply for a role they didn’t previously think they could do.

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

• uk.movember.com click on the men’s health tab for links to information about spotting the signs, how to have difficult conversations and suicide prevention.
•  SHOUT crisis line – text SHOUT to 85258 or visit their website giveusashout.org
• hubofhope.co.uk is a mental health database providing postcode search function, so wherever you are, you can access support.

 Work Support:

• If you are a serving or retired fire service personnel (operational or non-operational) the Fire Fighters Charity is there to support you firefighterscharity.org.uk
• Along with their support programmes to improve health and wellbeing they have just launched a crisis line, to support fire service personnel (serving or retired) if they experience thoughts of suicide.  The crisis line number is 0300 373 0896

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

Together with Paul, we would like to raise the awareness of the dangers these items can pose and how the safe disposal of the hot waste is extremely important. If in any doubt, always douse a disposable bbq with water or tip it into a metal container in a safe place and ensure the contents are fully extinguished before ultimately disposing of it. For more information about barbecues and chimenea safety, please head to our website on www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/bbq  

Paul also reflects on his new venture as an on-call firefighter at Lytham and provides an exclusive insight into how his family have found this new role following their house fire, his emotions at his first incident and how it feels to protect his local community.  If you would like to know more about becoming an on-call firefighter visit www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/oncall

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

In episode two, join us as we delve deep into the flames that burn over and underground with one of our wildfire experts, Station Manager Rob Harvey. Rob shares his valuable knowledge and first- hand experience of scorching wildfires. We explore how in hot and dry conditions BBQs, campfires and cigarettes can quickly ignite and spread. 

As a fire and rescue service, we are now more prepared than ever before to extinguish wildfires with our recent investments in new equipment and resources but ultimately we want people to understand the risks associated with disposable barbecues and naked flames on any type of open grassland and the extensive damage and devastation they cause.

This time of the year is when we see an increase of calls for moorland and grass fires and with the warm and dry weather set to continue over this summer, we want everyone to take extra care and look after Lancashire. 

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

Diane Fenton went into cardiac arrest at her home in Leyland in January 2023. Her husband immediately dialled 999 and began chest compressions, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service’s first ever community first responder, Andy Dow, was the first to arrive on scene. 

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service is running a trial involving non-operational staff volunteering as community first responders from the workplace, supporting North West Ambulance Service. Community first responders are trained to provide life-saving treatment to patients in the vital first few minutes of an emergency until ambulance crews arrive.

If you’re interested in becoming a Community First Responders (CFR), you can send your name and address to CFR.recruitment@nwas.nhs.uk to find out if NWAS are looking for volunteers in your community. 

And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.